yellow head

[ccraft]

When I pet my chickens their faces turn a yellowish, when i put them down it goes right back to red. I thought I might be squeezing them too tight, but they don't run away. When i put them down they sit right in front of me and wait for their back rub. Any idea why their face turns yellowish?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've seen them lighten to a pink, and darken to purple, but never turn yellow, are your birds younger? Face color generally reflects health and sexual maturity. I assume when they are picked up they either don't breathe normally which causes color change, or it reflects an emotional change which would alter the pulse and blood pressure which can change the head color in response to it.